OLDHAM COOKED

Football's discipline in 1915 was brought to the 'fore when on Easter Saturday (April 3rd), referee, Mr H Smith of Nottingham, was forced to abandon his 1st Division fixture between Middlesbrough and Oldham Athletic, after 46 minutes, when the Oldham full back refused to leave the field, having been sent off.

Fourth placed Oldham were playing middle of the table Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park. Oldham really needed points to keep up with division leaders, Manchester City.  Oldham fell behind after a few minutes and were 3-0 down in twenty. One goal was disputed and then Oldham were denied a penalty. In the second half at 3-1, Oldham's William Cook, fouled in the penalty area and it was 4-1. The game had been "robust" but not unruly.

 A protest ensued, the 7,000 crowd became very vocal, the referee then took his watch out of his pocket, waited, sent off Cook and walked off the pitch. Apparently Cook had refused to leave the pitch, so the ref gave him a minute to change his mind, he didn't and the ref abandoned the game, a first of this kind, at this level.

With a World War going on elsewhere, most papers agreed that the culprit should be punished further. Oldham however, selected Cook for the next game away against Manchester City on the 5th. The Oldham "board" had decided that Cook shouldn't play until the FL had taken action. When Oldham arrived at the City ground (Hyde Road), the two directors in charge of the game had no idea about this (apparently) and chose Cook at left back and the game was drawn 0-0.

The FL was furious, Cook was suspended for a year (although the season was soon to be postponed by the war!) and the Oldham club was fined £350, quite a bit in those days.

Oldham, on the brink of the division title, had to live with the FL decision that there would be no replay of the Middlesbrough game and the scoreline was to stand. Two points lost!! Cook, back left!

They had the chance to catch up with 5 games left and they beat Man U 1-0 in the next game on the 6th, beat Sheffield Utd 3-0 on the 10th and drew 0-0 on the 17th away at Aston Villa. They lost their final two games to Burnley 1-2 and Liverpool 0-2.

Oldham finished runners up, one point behind champions, Everton. Doh!
Cook appeared for the club the following season.
After the War, Oldham came 17th in 1919-20, 19th in 1920-1, 19th in 1921-2, 22nd (bottom) in 1922-3 and relegated to Div 2!